Read Online The Determining by Rebecca Grous - Free Book Online Page A

Texas Province. Logan is twenty-six and Thayer is twenty-eight.” Ruth’s eyes sparkled with mischief. “Either of them would be quite a catch, but Thayer is mine.”
    “You won’t have any competition here. I’m with Drew.” Reminding everyone of her committed relationship was getting tiresome.
    “Speak of the devil,” Ruth murmured as Drew approached. “I’ll let you two chat.” She wasted no time in sashaying over to the McLean brothers.
    Alone, Charlie turned her full attention to Drew. When she had been sitting twenty feet away at the head table, Drew looked like he belonged at the party. Up close, she took in the details— the ill-fitting rental suit, dull shoes, and hair carelessly brushed back— she realizes how misplaced he was. She didn’t care. It was all part of his charm.
    “I’ve been looking for you.” He leaned down, his lips brushing a kiss across her cheek. “Where did you disappear to?” His breath tickled her skin.
    “Just escaping my mother and the latest prospective husband she threw at me.”
    He frowned. “He seemed like a pompous ass.”
    “Most of the men here are pompous asses.” Charlie nudged him playfully.
    Unexpectedly, Drew turned serious. “If I could compete with the rich snobs here, I’d be your first dance.” He shot her a somber look from behind his glasses.
    “You don’t need to buy my dance. I’ll give you the second one for free.” She tried to lighten his serious mood and failed.
    He slouched, running a hand through his hair, making the blond locks stand on end. “Still, I wish I could prove I was worthy of you.”
    “You don’t need to.” Charlie brushed his hair down and leaned in to kiss him.
    “Charlotte!” Margaret barely kept herself from shrieking. She grabbed Charlie by the wrist, pulling her away from Drew.
    “Evening, Mrs. Grey.” Drew offered his hand, but Margaret ignored him.
    She prodded Charlie toward the center of the room. “The auction is about to start,” she hissed, careful to keep a smile on her face. “The man who buys your first dance might very well be your future husband. Stop trying to make a mess of tonight by throwing yourself at that useless boy.” Margaret pulled Charlie into a hug as the gathering crowd watched. “When the bidding starts, look pleased.”
    Charlie fought a scowl as Margaret stepped back, presenting her with a flourish and a bow before exiting the dance floor. A spotlight found her as the rest of the room went dark. The conversations surrounding her tapered off as the crowd turned their attention to Charlie. Her palms began to sweat.
    “Gentlemen, the time has come.” The auctioneer stepped forward, stopping next to her in the circle of light. “You’ve had a chance to see the beautiful Miss Grey. Now let’s find out who can acquire her first dance. The bidding starts at one thousand credits.”
    Charlie couldn’t follow all the shouted offers. Her mind reeled as number after number pushed the bidding up. Rather than attempting to follow the frenzy, she looked into the darkness surrounding her. She could make out the people closest to her. She spotted Drew at the edge of the dance floor.
    Their eyes met and she gave him a sad smile. She hated this tradition because it made her feel like a possession, but Drew hated it because he had no way of participating. It was a game for the rich and he didn’t fit the bill.
    As the minutes ticked by, she felt more and more uncomfortable. The bids rose higher and higher until only two people remained in the bidding war. Charlie couldn’t make either of them out, but she thought one of the voices sounded like Mason Novack. She hoped he wouldn’t win; she didn’t want to spend any more time with him than she already had.
    A minute later, the bidding began to slow down. “We’re at four hundred thousand. Do I hear four fifty?” Silence. “Four hundred thousand going once, twice—”
    “One million.”
    A gasp traveled through the crowd. Charlie